Lee alumni musicians release second EP, "Too Early To Tell"
“I believe that all of these songs can hit you whenever you need them. It’s up to you — the listener — to let them,” lead guitarist Spencer Smith said. “So just go listen. I promise it won’t hurt.”
Courtesy of Mitchell Hartley
Chattanooga-based band and Lee alumni Edward and Jane released their sophomore EP, “Too Early To Tell,” on Sept. 29 and hosted a record launch show to celebrate. The show was held at The Camp House on Oct. 13 and quickly filled with friends, family, Lee alumni and current students.
While writing the songs that ultimately became “Too Early To Tell,” band leads Tim and Emilie Carpenter had no idea that the individual tracks would result in a record.
“We were navigating the aching pain of departing your hometown and transitioning away from childhood into adulthood, and those emotions manifested themselves in these five songs,” Tim Carpenter said. “The recording process for this album was a dream. We spent longer in the studio for this record than we have ever spent on any one project.”
Lead guitarist for Edward and Jane and Lee alumnus Spencer Smith believes that the recording process for this record brought the band closer together, and gave them confidence for their future projects.
“Every time we go into the studio…we learn something about music and being instrumentalists and pushing ourselves to something greater,” Smith said. “When it was all said and done, I think we all just sat back and were like, ‘Yeah, we can do this.’ It’s all just fuel on the fire.”
Tim Carpenter explained that the folk/rock ensemble creates music with the mission to make every listener feel welcome and necessary.
“We sincerely hope…when someone hears the songs on this EP, that they are comforted in knowing [that] growing up is difficult and they are not the only one who has had questions or fears when it comes to the shifting winds of life,” Tim Carpenter said. “We want the words of each song to resonate in your heart and help you remember the best parts of life.”
Beyond offering comfort and empathy to their audience, the band seeks to bring a hint of nostalgia in their music.
According to their website, “Edward and Jane use their art to take listeners back to a simpler time—a time where music could steal you away from the worries of the world.”
Smith explains that this emotional connection and nostalgic note have the opportunity to truly impact the listener.
“I believe that all of these songs can hit you whenever you need them. It’s up to you—the listener—to let them,” Smith said. “So just go listen. I promise it won’t hurt.”
Recent Lee graduate Danielle Smith believes that Edward and Jane’s sound sets them apart from other popular folk bands.
“I like their style. It’s good ‘windows down, driving around’ kind of music. Their music makes you feel at home,” Danielle Smith said.
Edward and Jane have been touring for the past three years, were featured on MTV and A&E, and have shared the stage with Jon Foreman, Birdtalker and many others. The first single released from this project, “Please Don’t Leave Me Like This,” has been streamed over 230,000 times on Spotify alone since its release in February.
Lee alumna Celia Denney first heard of the band through mutual friends and hasn’t stopped listening since.
“Their creativity makes them stand out,” Denney said. “I don’t know if it’s because [the Carpenters are] husband and wife and have that deeper connection, but I know they’re different.”
The title, “Too Early To Tell,” comes from a line in the second song on the record, “I’ll Already Be Gone.” The lyric says, “Where are you going? It’s too early to tell.” Carpenter believes that this was an appropriate title for Edward and Jane’s sophomore EP because they are still unsure where their songs will take them.
“Our journey in music has been an absolute blast, and we can only hope to keep fighting the good fight as we venture forward,” Tim Carpenter said. “Where it will ultimately take us we cannot be certain—it is simply too early to tell.”
“Too Early To Tell” is available on all streaming services. Additionally, the music video for their single, “Hold Your Own,” is now premiering exclusively on Billboard. For more information, visit Edward and Jane’s official website.
